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Chinese President Xi Jinping's top economic adviser, Liu He, said on Tuesday reform of China's ruling Communist Party and government institutions will be profound.

PHOTO: AFP

[SHANGHAI] Chinese President Xi Jinping's top economic adviser, Liu He, said on Tuesday reform of China's ruling Communist Party and government institutions will be profound.

Liu He, a Harvard-trained economist who is a trusted confidant of Mr Xi, has emerged as the front-runner to be the next governor of the People's Bank of China.

Mr Liu said in a commentary in the official People's Daily the responsibilities and authority of government ministries overlapped in some places, while the division of labour by some state agencies was not effective and led to inefficiencies.

It was necessary to reform the party and state institutions to solve such problems and promote further economic, social, political, cultural and ecological advances, he said.

"Strengthening the party's overall leadership is the core issue," he said.

China removed presidential term limits from its constitution on Sunday, giving President Xi Jinping the right to remain in office indefinitely. That confirmed Xi's status as China's most powerful leader since Mao Zedong died more than 40 years ago.